By Lucia Vanderhorst – 11th Grade

Every year new music comes out, but 2025 feels different. There were so many albums that completely took over social media, playlists and conversations at school. What makes this year special is how diverse the music is. You have pop, Latin, alternative, electronic and even artists who mix all of these together. When the Associated Press released its list of top albums of the year, it was expected because these albums shaped the way people listened to music all year long. For teens like me, music is basically a personality, so whatever becomes popular always feels like a big moment.

One of the biggest highlights of the year was how global music became. Artists like Bad Bunny and Rosalía continued to dominate not just in Spanish speaking countries but around the entire world. Their albums were talked about everywhere. Bad Bunny especially influences teens. His music is fun, emotional, and unpredictable. Rosalía, on the other hand, always experiments with sounds that feel fresh and creative. Seeing both of them in the top albums list proves how much Latin music has shaped pop culture.

This year was also interesting because some unexpected artists made the list. Addison Rae, who started out as a social media creator, released an album that people actually respected. It had good production and a style that felt different from the usual influencer music. This shows that teens today do not focus on where an artist starts. If the music sounds good, people will listen. This shift is something older generations do not always understand. For us, music is about connection, not status.

Another thing that stood out was how emotional and personal the albums were this year. Hayley Williams released music that felt very deep and honest. Youths connected with it because her songs talk about feelings that are hard to express. Her album felt like something you listen to when you are overthinking at night or when you want to feel understood. Music like that always ends up being remembered more.

The variety of the albums is what made 2025 so fun. You could go from dancing to a Latin pop song to crying over an acoustic track all in the same day. It shows how young people today love switching between moods and genres. We do not stick to one sound only. We want music for every moment of our lives. That is why the top albums list felt relatable. It reflected what we actually listen to.

Social media also played a huge part in which albums became popular. TikTok especially made certain songs go viral even before the albums came out. Teens would use short clips of songs and suddenly the whole world knew them. Interestingly, a fifteen second clip can make an entire album blow up. That is something that did not exist years ago and it completely changed the music industry.

Another reason these albums became so big is because the artists know how to connect with fans. They post real behind the scenes videos, talk about their inspiration and interact online in ways that make fans feel like they are part of the process. Many teens report that type of connection makes music feel more personal. When an artist explains what inspired a song, it hits deeper.

The best part about the albums of 2025 is that they feel like they belong to our generation. They talk about identity, love, confusion, personal growth and having fun. Even the upbeat songs still have meaning behind them. That is what makes modern music different from older eras. Artists are not afraid to express complicated feelings and teens are not afraid to listen to them.

Overall, the top albums of 2025 show how powerful music can be. It brings people together, sets trends and makes the youth feel understood. This year’s list is something people will look back on because it captures the sounds and emotions that defined our generation.

Sources:

https://apnews.com/article/best-music-albums-2025-a9afd2a0f4a3c27e22e2f83fef884f75

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-albums-of-2025-1235466292/

https://www.albumoftheyear.org/list/2464-billboards-50-best-albums-of-2025-so-far/